PETER LA FRANCHI / CANBERRA
Air 9000 plan includes acquisitions reducing number of types in service, as well as restructuring support and training
The Australian Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) plans a major rationalisation and overhaul of the country's helicopter fleet and supporting industry. The first step is the release of a tender for an additional squadron of army medium lift machines by the end of this month.
Air 9000 is aimed to reduce the number of helicopter types in Australian military service from nine to as few as three over 10-15 years. DMO officials have linked to this a restructuring of the domestic supporting infrastructure, including outsourcing all rotary-wing training in an effort to produce a more affordable rotary wing aviation capability.
The acquisition model effectively means the four prospective Air 9000 contenders - AgustaWestland, Bell/Agusta, Eurocopter and Sikorsky - are competing for dominance of the Australian military helicopter market over the next 20 years. The new medium-size machines will replace the army's Bell UH-1Hs after 2005.
Air 9000 includes five separate projects. A final tender for Phase 2 is to be handed to Australian defence minister Robert Hill for approval by next month. That document will call for bids for the supply of 12 or more helicopters and proposals for the rationalisation of Australian military rotary wing aircraft support.
Phase 3 merges two present Royal Australian Navy projects - Sea 1151 Phase 2 and Sea 1405 Phase 3/4 - intended to complete a mid-life update (MLU) of the Sikorsky S-70B Seahawk and flight simulator respectively. The phase is now designated Seahawk mid-life upgrade/replacement with final decisions to be made over the next two years. Government funding approval is to be sought in 2004.
Air 9000 Phase 4 proposes an MLU or replacement of army S-70A Black Hawk helicopters with funding approvals to be sought in 2005. Phase 5 will see an MLU on Boeing CH-47D Chinooks with funding proposed for 2007.
Source: Flight International
